Race Result

Racer:	Shawn Clark
Race:	Kinetic Half
Date:	Saturday, April 19, 2008
Location:	Spotsylvania, VA
Race Type:	Triathlon - Half Ironman
Age Group:	Male 30 - 34
Time:	5:34:27
Comment:	Hot and slow - but great opener

Race Report:

The Kinetic half was the first tri of the season for me and I was very excited to get out there and race. This would be my first race on my new bike, my first race on my new wheels, my first race in my Ironman season, and more importantly my first race to try raise money for my friend Kelly is is fighting for her life against Cancer. The last mentioned is obviously the most important first on this list and as background I'm dedicating all my races leading up to and including Quelle Challenge Roth to try raise money for Kelly. If you want to read about her I have a link on my blog or you can contact me for more information on how you can donate.

With all these firsts I had high hopes for a great race, shooting for a half PR that was set last June. I knew it would be a tall order to race that well this early in the season but I wanted to try anyway. So I set some tough standards but did so while telling myself that the most important thing was to complete the race and learn from it.

Staying down there the night before was a great idea and I'm glad Reid organized that for us.

We all woke up early and took care of our own morning rituals, breakfast, coffee, bathroom, mixing of our potions, bathroom, setting up our transition area, bathroom, and finally heading down to the water to start.

Swim: Goal: 32 minutes Reality: 34:43

This was my first swim as an age grouper, having swum all of last season as a Clydesdale I was nervous about swimming with a tougher group. It turns out it's less frightening than hopping in the water will all the big boys; I finished further back but was less bruised and beaten up. I wish I could have finished a little faster and I still need to work on sighting and keeping a smooth consistent stroke while racing. I've managed to train myself this winter to have a long, smooth (seems to me anyway) stroke, using the entire stroke but when I got going in the race I would forget all that. So that is 1 place I can improve. Sighting wasn't as bad as Sunday but still needs lots of work.

T1: 3:10 putting on socks took more time but worth it.

Bike: Goal: 2:35-ish Actual: 2:39:20

My original plan was to see what I could do on the bike but after discussing it with my cabin mates it seemed to make more sense to hold back and save something for the run and work on my race nutrition instead. So I took off letting a few people pass me and just held a nice even pace for the first loop of the course. I did push a bit on some of the hills but other than that nice and easy. On the second loop I started trying to just catch up to the next person in front of me, then the next, then the next and so on until I completed the second loop. I drank my Accelerade and took my gels but I think being in the aero position all that just sat in my stomach and wasn't able to digest. In addition looking back I realize now that I didn't drink nearly enough water so when I got off the bike I was not doing well.

T2: 143

Run: Goal 1:45 ish Actual: 2:15:33 "Ow my ego!"

I've always suffered in the heat and my larger belly has always made inclines tough to ride and run up...add that to the fact that I was dehydrated (didn't know yet) and before I even made it up the first hill my quads started seizing, sounds like others had it worse but this was the first time I've ever cramped so it was alarming. I settled into a jog to the aid station, take as much as I could and walk until it was gone, repeat routine that got me through the three laps. It was tough but I just kept telling myself to finish .. it could be worse.

In the end I had a good time. I enjoyed the event and most importantly I've identified some important areas to work on before Roth. I saw some great friends put out some fantastic races Congrats guys!

-shawn